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5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 017% 7. liellfl:

A T KELLER UNIVERSAL ROLLING MILL Filed Jan. 21. 1928 May 26, 1931.

May 26, 1931. A. T. KELLER 1,806,976

UNIVERSAL ROLLING MILL Filed Jan. 21, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Alba"; T521161.

May 26, 1931. A. T. KELLER 1,806,976

UNIVERSAL ROLLING MILL Filed Jan. 21, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR 100 Albert 1 Keller.

y 1931- A. T. KELLER 1,806,976

UNIVERSAL ROLLING MILL Filed Jan. 21, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 iglmmifiinnl llu imam I m m INVENTOR Alba/'5 Z Kalle)".

May 26, 1931. A. T. KELLER 1,806,976

UNIVERSAL ROLLING MILL Filed Jan. 21, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Y mam driven, the upper formative roll 2 being end to the center of bar 28. To th rolls 5 and 6 while rolls 3 and i directly clevis members 27', lugs .39 of carrier Patented May 26, 1931 1,806,976

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ALBERT T. KELLER, OF BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO BETHLEHEM STEEL COMPANY UNIVERSAL ROLLING MILL Application filed January 21, 1928. Serial No. 248,324.

My invention comprises certain modificadriven from suitable sources of power. Rolls tions of universal mill structure, the primary 3, 5 and 6 are driven by means of power repurpose of which is to enable all of the formceived through power shaft 7 which is ative rolls to be positively driven. coupled to the pinions in pinion housing 8 My invention comprises universal mill these rolls being each directly coupled to the structure wherein the vertical formative rolls pinions in the pinion housing by means of and one of the horizontal formative rolls are coupling members 100, 101 and 102. Vertidirectly driven from suitable sources of cal rolls 4 are driven from shaft 65 which repower, and the other of the horizontal formaceives its power from a suitable source. tive rolls is driven through the intermediary Roll 3, is supported by means of its trunof backing rolls, which backing rolls are dinions 3 in chocks 9, which are slidably mountrectly driven. This invention includes such ed in guides 10 on the main frame 11. This an arrangement and mounting of this particroll is adjustable toward and from the work ular horizontal, formative roll, and its assoby means of adjusting screws 12 which enciated backing rolls, as to permit of a more or gage bearing surfaces 13 upon the chocks, less flexible or equalizing interrelation of the adjusting screws being rotatably mountthese rolls, while at the same time permitting ed in supports 14 and having a threaded enan effective driving and adjustment thereof. gagement with nuts 15 secured to the frame- Referring to the drawings for illustrating Work. Fixed to supports 14 are the worm a particular embodiment of the invention: wheel casings 16 carrying worm wheels 17,

Fig. 1 is an elevation, partly in section, slidably keyed to adjusting screws 12, operataken longitudinally of the rolls; tively engaging worm 18, on worm shaft 19,

Fig. 2 is an elevation at right angles to which shaft receives power from any suitthat of Fig. 1 taken on line IIII of that able source. figure, certain parts being in section; Upper roll 2 is not only driven by means Fi 3 is a cross section along the line of backin rolls 5 and 6, but its adjustment III III of F ig, 1; L is also e ected through their intermediary.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the mill as Themountingofformative roll 2 and backing viewed from the right hand side of Fig. 1; rolls 5 and 6 and the structure permitting Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are detail views of the carof the operative relationship between these riers or housings for the vertical rolls, Figs. 5 rolls is as follows: These rolls 2, 5 and 6 are and 6 being elevations as viewed from oppomounted in an equalizing system 20, comsite sides, and Fig. 7 bein a cross section prising supporting rods 21 slidable in openalong the line VIIVII 0 Fig. 6; ings 21 of cross head 22, movement of the Figs. 8 and 9 are front and side views of the rods downwardly with relation to the cross 85 journal carriers of the upper horizontal, head and the cross head upwardly with relaformative rolls; and tion to the rods being limited by stop Wash- Figs. 10, 11 and 12 are front and side eleers 23 and wedges 24. The lower ends of vation and plan views respectively of the rods 21 are pivoted to the centers of levers equalizing system for carrying the upper 25. The inner ends, that is the adjacent ends, so horizontal formative roll and associated of these levers 25 are pivotally connected at backing rolls in operative relationship. 26. From the outer ends of levers 25 are sus- The formative rolls consist of horizontal pended backing rolls 5 and 6 while from the rolls 2 and 3 and vertical rolls 4, engaging inner ends of these levers is suspended formthe work 1, the axes of all of the rolls being ative roll 2. in substantially the same vertical plane. Roll 2 is carried as follows: Pivotally hung All the formative rolls are positively at 26 is link 27 pivotally attached at its lower driven by frictional engagement with backing ends of bar 28 are pivotally comic which are mounted journals 2" of formative roll 2. These carriers 29 have side extensions 29" which serve as guiding means and also for lateral adjustment of the upper horizontal formative roll, as will be set forth more fully later.

Backing rolls 5 and 6 are mounted in the following manner: Pivotally suspended from the outer ends of levers 25 are members 30 attachedto the central portions of bars 31. These bars, at their outer ends support the journal boxes 32 which are carried thereby by means of the hook-like members 33. Rolls 5 and 6 are journaled in boxes 32 which are adapted to slide in guides 34 of the frame work.

The equalizing system 20 with the rolls 2, 5 and 6 carried thereby, are supported by cross head 22 which is attached at each end to lugs 50 of plungers 48 in hydraulic cylinders 49, these plungers having the usual upward lifting action. Rolls 5 and 6, and thereby roll 2, are adjusted by means of screws 38, rotatably engaging contact pieces 39 resting on boxes 32. These screws, slidably keyed to worm wheels 40, the casings 41 of which are mounted upon the frame work, have threaded engagement internally with nuts 40 fixed to the frame work. These worm wheels mesh with worms 41 on worm shafts 42, which receive their power from shafts 43, through intermeshing gears 44 on shafts 42 and 43, shafts 43 being connected to power shaft 45 by means of gears 46, shaft 45 receiving its power from motor 47.

Vertical rolls 4 are fixed at the lower ends of shaft 52 which are rotatably mounted in the laterally movable housings 53. These housings are provided with curved bearing portions 54 and 55 which, with journal boxes 56 and 57, constitute the bearings for shafts 52. The bearing portions of this movable housing, together with the journal boxes, form shoulders 58 and 59 which cooperate with collars 60 and 61 on shafts 52 to support these shafts.

Housings 53 are suspended from shafts 65 which is rotatably mounted in bearings 66, 67 and 68 of the frame work. The upper ends of these housings are curved and, together with journal boxes 62, rotatably embrace collars 63 which are fixed to bevel gears 64 slidably keyed to shaft 65. Bevel gears 64 mesh with bevel gears 64 fixed to the upper ends of shaft 52 whereby the vertical rolls are driven from power furnished to shafts 65 from a suitable source.

These housings are laterally adjustable on.

guides 69 and 70 to movethe vertical rolls 4 toward the Work by means of adjusting screws 71, the ends 72 of which bear against the bearing surfaces at recesses 73 of the housings. The adjusting screws slidably keyed to Worm wheels in worm wheel casings 76, fixed to the frame work, have threaded engagement internally of nuts 74 secured in the frame work. Worm wheels 75 are turned by worm 77 on worm shaft 78, bevel gearing 79 operably connecting these shafts with shafts 80 operated by motors 81 and 81. It should be noted that each of the vertical rolls is adjustable independently of the other and from separate sources of power, that is from independent motors 81 and 81'. Obviously by providing clutch on shafts driven by independent motors, the rolls may also be operated in unison.

The movable housings 53 are held seated upon the adjusting screws by means of hydraulic pressure, plunger 82 in cylinder 83 engaging cross head 84 to exert pressure outwardly, this cross head being connected to rods 85, the other ends of which engage recesses 86 of the housings, heads 87 of the rods acting to hold the rod ends in the recesses 86', the rods first being inserted in the larger portions of the recesses and then pushed into the restricted portions 86 thereof.

For holding horizontal roll 2 against lateral displacement and also to permit a certain amount of lateral adjustment thereof, the following structure is provided: The journal carriers 29 of this roll have side extensions 29" which embrace portions 53' of housings 53, these portions serving as guide ways for the extensions 29". The ends of extensions 29 abut the ends of blocks 36 which have a sliding fit in the guide recesses 36 of housings 53. To keep sliding blocks 36 against the ends of extensions 29 and also to enable a certain amount of lateral adjustment of the journal carriers, and thereby of the roll 2, there are provided bolts 35 which engage the screw threaded recesses of bodies 36, the outer ends of these bolts resting in recesses 37 of the frame work. Polygonal heads 35 are fixed to the bolts 35 for turning them to effect the desired adjustments. I

The operation of the mill will be more or less apparent, accordingly it will be outlined principally with regard to those features new in the art.

The work 1 is passed between the formative rolls 2, 3 and 4 in the usual way. Each of these rolls however is positively driven, that is each of the rolls receives power from a suitable source and therefore acts positively upon the work as distinguished from the usual millwhere one or more rolls are idle, turning only because of the action of the work thereon, here each of the rolls positively acts upon the work piece.

Because of this feature, means are provided for adjusting the formative rolls toward and from the work piece independently of each other. The usual adjusting screws are employed actuated by worm and worm wheel connections, these adjusting screws being effective to move the rolls toward the work against the opposite action either by gravity,

as in the case of the lower, horizontal formative roll 3, or against the action of hydraulic pressure in the case of the other rolls.

Upper roll 2 is positively driven by means of backing rolls 5 and 6. An important feature of the invention is the mounting of this formative roll in operative relationship with the backing rolls. The equalizing arran ement 20 not only carries these rolls but, cause of the pivotal arrangement of the levers and the roll carriers, a limited relative vertical movement of the formative roll and backing rolls is permitted for adjusting these rolls relative to each other. Rods 21, because of the upward pull of crosshead 22 tends to lift levers 25. Screws 38, by their engagement with boxes 32, prevent upward movement of the outer ends of levers 25. Consequently the lifting action of rods 21 tends to rotate levers 25 about their pivotal connections to carriers 30 and thereby tends to lift formative roll 2 into operative engagement with backing rolls 5 and 6. The adjustment of this formative roll through the intermediary of the backing rolls is obvious, the adjust ment being made by means of the adjusting screws 38 in the usual manner, these screws acting against the lifting action upon cross head 22, and thereby upon the equalizing arrangement 20. As is obvious, if it is desired to adjust the backing rolls independently of each other shafts 43 may be operated by separate motors or a clutch may be used to operatively engage shaft 45 with either of shafts 43.

Having described my invention what I desire to claim is as follows:

1. In a universal rolling mill, two directly driven vertical, formative rolls, two horizontal formative rolls, one of which is direct ly driven and the other positively but indirectly driven, all of the format'w rolls having their axes in the same vertnal plane.

2. In a universal rolling mill, two direct' ly driven vertical, formative rolls. two horizontal formative rolls, one of which is directly driven and the other positively but indirectly driven, and means for adjusting each formative roll independently of the other formative rolls.

3. In a universal rolling mill, two directly driven vertical, formative rolls, two horizontal formative rolls, one of which is directly driven and the other positively but indirectly driven, all the formative rolls having their axes in the same vertical plane, and means for adjusting each formative roll independently of the other formative rolls.

4". In a universal rolling mill, two directly driven vertical, formative rolls. a directly driven lower horizontal formative roll, an

upper horizontal formative roll, directly driven backing rolls operatively engaging the upper horizontal formative roll, all formative rolls having their axes in the saint? vertical plane.

5. In a universal rolling mill, two directly driven vertical, formative rolls, a directly driven lower horizontal formative roll, an upper horizontal formative roll, directly driven backing rolls operatively engaging the upper horizontal formative roll, all formative rolls having their axes in the same vertical plane, and means for adjusting each formative roll independently of the other formative rolls.

6. In a universal rolling mill, two directly driven vertical, formative rolls, a directly driven lower horizontal, formative roll, an upper horizontal formative roll, directly driven backing rolls operatively engaging the upper horizontalformative roll,all formative rolls having their axes in the same vertical plane, means for adjusting the vertical formative rolls independently of each other and of the horizontal rolls, means for adjusting the lower horizontal formative roll, and independent means for adjusting the backing rolls and thereby to adjust the upper horizontal roll.

7. In a rolling mill, a horizontal formative roll, backing rolls operatively engaging said formative roll, means for driving the backing rolls and thereby driving the said formative roll, and means for supporting both Said formative and backing rolls including means to permit vertical movement of said formative roll without moving the backing rolls.

8. Ina universal rolling mill, two directly driven vertical, formative rolls, a directly driven lower horizontal formative roll, an upper horizontal formative roll, directly driven backing rolls operatively engaging the upper horizontal formative roll, and means for suspending the backing rolls and said upper horizontal formativ e rolls, including means permitting limited relative movement vertically between said upper horizontal formative roll and the backing rolls.

9. In a rolling mill, two horizontal formative rolls, backing rolls for the upper formative roll, means for sup-porting the upper formative roll and backing rolls in operative but yielding relationship comprising supporting elements, levers pivotally connected to the supporting elements and to each other, separate carriers pivotally attached to said levers sus ending the upper formative roll and the bac ing rolls in operative relationship to permit limited vertical movement of the backing rolls and said upper formative roll.

10. In a rolling mill, two horizontal formative rolls, backing rolls engaging the upper formative roll, a cross head, lifting means for producing an upwardly acting force on' the cross head, suspending elements attached to the cross head, levers pivoted to the suspending elements, separate carriers for the upper formative roll and the backing rolls pivotally suspended from the levers, and means for adjusting the backing rolls downwardly thereby to adjust the upper formative roll, and to hold these rolls against the lifting means acting on the cross head.

1 1. In a rolling mill, two horizontal formative rolls, backing rolls engaging the upper formative roll, a cross head, rods slidably engaging the cross head, means for limiting the downward movement of the rod relative to the cross head, levers pivoted to each other near their adjacent ends and pivoted at intermediate points to the rods, carrying means for the upper formative roll pivotally suspended from the adjacent ends of the levers, carrying means for the backing rolls pivotally suspended from the outer ends of the levers, lifting means exerting an upwardly acting force upon the cross head. and adjusting means acting upon the backing rolls against the action of the lifting means upon the cross head.

12. In a universal mill, vertical formative rolls, laterally adjustable housings supporting the vertical rolls, an upper horizontal 3 formative roll, carriers for said upper horizontal formative roll, guide elements on said carriers slidably en aging guideways on the laterally adjustablediousings. blocks slidably mounted in openings in the laterally adjustable housing abutting the guide elements on said carriers, adjustable means for said blocks, whereby the upper horizontal formative roll may be laterally adjusted and held in an adjusted position against lateral movement.

13. In a universal mill, vertical formative rolls, laterally adjustable housings supporting the vertical rolls, an upper horizontal formative roll, backing rolls operatively engaging the upper formative roll, means for positively driving the backing rolls, carriers for said upper horizontal formative roll, guide elements on said carriers slidably engaging guideways on the laterally adjustable housings, blocks slidably mounted in openings in the laterally adjustable housing abutting the guide elements on said carriers, adjustable means for said blocks. whereby the upper horizontal formative roll may be laterally adjusted and held in an adjusted position against lateral movement.

14. In a universal rolling mill, two positively driven vertical, formative rolls, two horizontal formative rolls, one of which is directly driven, backing rolls engaging the other of said horizontal formative rolls and means for driving the backing rolls, all of the formative rolls having their axes in the same vertical plane.

In testimony whereof I hereunto alfix my signature. v

ALBERT T. KELLER. 

